Amusement device



H. p. s'roNEBAcK 2,303,770

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 194O 2 Sheets-Sheet l' Dec. 1, 1942. H.D. sTQNEBAcK AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1940 2 sheds-sheet 2 v A@ QNN w mw f. llwl l msu ha@ t QW www Patented Dec. 1, 19472 UNiTED TESAMUSElWENT DEVICE Howard D. Stoneback, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to TheHumphrey Company, Cleveland, Ohio Application August 4, 1940', SerialNo. 351,315

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanical amusement device and theoperating mechanism therefor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an amusementdevice having a series of carriages movable upon and adapted to carrypassengers around a circular course.

Another object is the provision of a mechanical amusement device whereina series of carriages are simultaneously moved over and are adapted tocarry passengers around a circular course.

Another object is the provision of novel means for simultaneously movinga series of passenger carrying carriages around a circular course andimparting a rocking motion thereto.

A further object is to provide a novel operating mechanism forsupporting and frictionally moving a series of passenger carryingcarriages around a circular course and simultaneously imparting arocking motion thereto.

A still further object is to provide a, novel means for supporting aseries of carriages on and frictionally moving the same around acircular track, during which a rocking movement is imparted to thecarriages.

Still another object is the p-rovision of a Inechanical amusement ride,particularly adapted for children, wherein the operating mechanism ismounted within the supporting platform thereby leaving the center of thedevice open and unobstructed, which makes the ride easier to operate andalso gives a neater appearance thereto.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent as thespecification is considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the platform and one of the carriage unitspositioned thereon, the platform being partly broken away to show therotatable base frame;

Figure 2 is a cross section through the platform showing the fixed rail,floating base frame and the friction drive for rotating the same;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, showing thesupporting and operating mechanism for a horse of one of the carriageunits, the floating base frame, and associated driving mechanismtherefor;

Figure 4 is a plan` view of one of the eccentric friction wheels forimparting a vertical movement to the horses of each of the carriageunits; and

Figure 5 is a cross section through a portion of one of the wheeledcarriages.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral I designates generally an elevated substantially ring-shaped orcircular hollow platform or track comprising a flat top Wall 2 and sidewalls 3 supported by a floor 4. A step 3', extending around and suitablyattached to the outer side wall 3, is preferably provided to enable thepassengers of the device to mount the platform. Arranged within theplatform I, intermediate the side walls, is a substantially circular,U-shaped rail 5 which is suitably xedly secured by bolts or the like,not shown, to the floor Il.

A circular base frame 1, comprising two spaced angle iron Walls 8secured together at spaced intervals by upstanding, substantiallyU-shaped housings 9, is rotatably mounted upon and supported by the rail5. Thus, a vertically disposed caster or roller I0, carried by a stubshaft II jour-nailed in a bracket 40 on the underside of each of thehousings 9, friotionally engages with and rides upon the flat top face5' of the rail5. Each of the series of casters I0 is retained inposition thereon by a horizontally disposed caster or roller i3, mountedon a stub shaft I4 journalled in a bracket I5 secured to one side wallof housing 9. As the casters I3 frictionally engage one side wall of therail 5, the frame 1 is held in proper alignment with respect to the rail5 and the casters I 0 are prevented from slipping from the rail, duringthe rotation of the frame 1, as presently described. The base frame 1 isrotated, relative to the fixed rail 5, by means of a vertical frictionwheel l5 keyed to the outer end of a horizontal drive shaft I1journalled in an upstanding bracket I8 of a stationary motor supportingframe` I9 mounted on the iloor d. Keyed on the inner end of shaft I1 isa pulley 20 which is drivingly connected by a flexible belt 2l to apulley 22 on the main horizontal drive shaft 23 of an electric motor 24suitably mounted on frame i9. The friction wheel I6 frictionally engagesa circular flange 25 on the inner wall 8 of the frame 1 and uponrotation of the drive shaft I1 in a. counterclockwise direction viewingFigure l, rotates the base frame 1, in a corresponding counterclockwisedirection.

The fiat top wall 2 of platform I serves as a support for a pair ofrubber tired wheels 26, mounted on the axles 21, of each of a series ofcarriages 2S having seats 29 thereon adapted to accommodate children orother passengers. 'I'he seats 29 are preferably mounted on the axles bypairs of suitable shock absorbing springs 29. While I have found itsatisfactory to use siX carriages, any desired number of the same may beemployed. The wheels of the carriages are prevented from slipping orsliding on the platform by a downwardly depending tube or the like 30,

suitably secured to each aXle 21 intermediate the ends thereof, whichprojects into a slot 3| formed v in the top wall 2 and extendingcircumferentially therearound. Each carriage is provided with a pair offorwardly projecting, spaced, parallel shafts 32 pivotally connected, attheir forward ends, to suitable harness rings 33, carried by aconventional harness 34 fastened, in the usual manner, to an upstandingpreferably wooden horse 35, The wooden horses are each supportedslightly above the top surface of the platform I by a series of verticalrods 36, suitably connected to the horses and extending downwardlythrough the circular slot 3| in the platform. The lower ends of the rods3B are each sleeved through a vertically disposed bearing 31 carried byeach of a series of upstanding brackets 38, secured to the circularframe I adjacent each of the caster supporting housings I9. Each of therods 3S are pivotally connected, at their lower ends, to the outer endsof each of a series of horizontally disposed levers 39, each of which isconnected, intermediate its ends, to eccentric pins 45 on the ends ofeach of a series of stub shafts 4|, journalled in the levers 38 of thecircular frame 1. Mounted on each of the shafts 4I is a vertical casteror roller 42 which frictionally engages the circular rail 5, in spacedrelation to each other, and the inner ends of the lever 39 are eachfulcrumed to an upstanding bracket 43 secured to the side walls 8 of theframe. By virtue of the eccentric connections between the levers 39 andcasters 42, when the frame 'l is rotated on the r'ail 5, the outer endsof the levers 39 are rocked, thus raising the rods 36 substantiallyvertically, through their bearings 31. As

' the rods 3S are pivotally connected to the rotating frame l and movein unison, due to the rotation of the casters 42 on rail 5, the horses35 and carriages 29 are advanced over the flat top surface of theplatform I. During the travel of the horses and carriages, thesubstantially vertical movement of the rods 36 causes the wooden horses35 to be raised and lowered, in a corresponding direction, which in turnsimultaneously rocks the shafts 32 of the carriages 29. The occupants ofthe carriages are thus rocked or swayed in an exhilarating manner duringthe rotation of the same around the platform.

From the foregoing it will be noted that due to the annular shape of theplatform and the mounting of the frame track and associated operatingmechanism within or beneath the platform, the center or that portion ofthe floor or base encircled by the platform is unobstructed thuspermitting of maximum freedom of movement on the part of attendants, andat the same time obviating the necessity of obstructing the view ofonlookers.

While I have shown and described my amusement device as comprising aseries of horses and carriage units, it is to be understood that variousother types of conveyances may be employed, wherein the same are rotatedover a stationary surface and simultaneously rocked. Various changes andimprovements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofth appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an amusement device of the character described comprising asubstantially circular platform, a substantially circular supportingtrack mounted in said platform, a frame member having a rotatable meanson and supported by said track, a circular flange on said frame, androtatable driving means frictionally engaging with said flange forrotating said frame on said track, a carriage on said platform, rigidmembers fixedly connected to said carriage, and means connected to saidmembers having a downwardly depending rod, a lever pivotally connectedto said frame, said rod being pivotally connected at its lower end tosaid lever, a roller eccentrically mounted on said lever and engageablewith said track for vertically moving said rod and said means whereby'said carriage is rocked and said means and carriage are simultaneouslypropelled along said platform,

2. In an amusement device of the character described comprising asubstantially circular platform, a substantially circular supportingrail mounted in said platform, a frame member having a roller rotatablymounted on and supported by said rail, and means for holding said rolleron said rail, said frame having a circular flangei thereon, a wheelfrictionally engaging with said ange for rotating said frame on saidrail, ai carriage on said platform, rigid members fixedly connected tosaid carriage and a horse connected to said members and having adownwardly depending rod secured thereto, a lever pivotally connected tosaid frame, said rod being pivotally connected at its lower end to saidlever, a roller eccentrically mounted on said lever, said roller ridingon and rotating over said rail whereby said rod and horse are movedvertically to rock said carriage and said horse and carriage aresimultaneously propelled along the platform.

3. In an amusement device of the character described comprising asubstantially circular platform, a substantially circular supportingrail xedly mounted in said platform, a frame member having a rollerrotatably mounted on and supported by said rail, and means engageablewith the side of said rail for holding said roller on said rail, saidframe having a laterally extending circular flange thereon, a wheelfrictionally engaging with said flange and means for rotating said wheelfor rotating said frame on said rail, a carriage on said platform, rigidmembers xedly connected to said carriage, and a horse connected to saidmembers and having a downwardly depending rod secured thereto, a leverpivotally connected to said frame, said rod being pivotally connected atits lower end to said lever, a roller eccentrically mounted on saidlever, said roller riding on and rotating over said rail whereby saidrod and horse are moved vertically to rock said carriage and said horseand carriage are simultaneously propelled along 'the platform.

4. In an amusement device of the character described comprising asubstantially circular platform, a substantially circular supportingrail xedly mounted in said platform, a frame member having a verticallydisposed roller rotatably mounted on and supported by said rail, androtatable means engageable with the side of said rail for holding saidroller on said rail, said frame having a laterally extending circularflange thereon, a vertically disposed wheel frictionally engaging withsaid flange and means for rotating said wheel for rotating said frame onsaid rail, a carriage rotatably mounted on said platform, rigid membersxedly connected to said carriage, a horse connected to said members andhaving a downwardlyv depending rod secured thereto, a lever pivotallyconnected to said frame. said rod being pivotally connected at its lowerend to said lever, a roller eccentrically mounted on said lever, saidroller riding on and rotating over said rail whereby said rod and horseare moved vertically to rock said carriage and said ,horse and carriageare simultaneously propelled along the platform.

HOWARD D. STONEBAICK.

